Triple Dog Dare

The Life of Jesus Series:

How Jesus interacted with others.

Mark 2:1-12

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202%3A1-12&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 1983 movie, “A Christmas Story”, Ralphie was an eye witness to the famous flagpole scene where one of his friends is forced to place his tongue on the frozen metal flagpole because of a “triple dog dare”.

 

His friend had no choice but to do it. Is that what happened to Jesus in this story?

 

Let’s consider the circumstances. Jesus had returned to Capernaum and was likely at Peter’s home. There was a huge crowd; so big that people were standing outside to listen, or to just get a glimpse of Jesus. Those who needed healing may have been waiting for hours.

 

It’s possible that this is a part of the back story of the paralyzed man and his friends. They may have faithfully and patiently waited for hours. Finally, not giving up hope, they devised a plan of desperation; a plan to lower their friend down through the roof of Peter’s house right in front of Jesus.

 

Following this is a series of events that is very revealing.

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  ⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”                       NIV

 

To the teachers of the law Jesus responded, ¹⁰ “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ¹¹ “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” ¹² And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers.                 NLT

 

Was this the result of a “triple dog dare”? Was Jesus forced to heal the paralytic like Ralphie’s friend was forced to stick his tongue onto a frozen flagpole?

 

 

What if the story had ended before the paralytic was healed? What if the only thing that Jesus had done for him was to forgive his sins?

 

I think the point of this story is not the faith of the paralytic and his friends. It’s that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins even before the crucifixion and resurrection. And, as the religious leaders so insightfully pointed out, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”